AFRICAN PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

Why the African Professional Awards?

The African Professional Awards is also referred to as the National Professional Awards (NAPA). APA is a pan-African initiative established in October 2014 to recognize individuals and organisations — both local and international — that are making significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of Africa. These individuals and institutions play a critical role in advancing national development agendas and supporting key programme priorities in local communities across the continent.

Over the years, both citizens and foreign professionals have continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment in driving Africa’s growth and transformation.

The awards were founded by African Consulting Group and Ecomedia Corporation to engage and celebrate outstanding men and women who are making remarkable contributions to sustainable development across all sectors in Africa.

The African Professional Awards are built on the belief that recognizing and empowering individuals and organisations that positively impact society is essential to moving the continent forward. By celebrating excellence and innovation, the awards seek to inspire others and strengthen Africa’s development journey.

Brief History

The inaugural National Professional Awards ceremony was held in partnership with the Sierra Leone CEO & Business Awards at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown on 23 October 2016.

The event attracted more than 850 distinguished guests, including diplomats, ministers, chief executive officers, heads of parastatals, non-governmental organisations, and representatives of international institutions.

The combined ceremony brought together leaders from both the public and private sectors to celebrate excellence and honour exceptional individuals who were contributing meaningfully to the advancement of Sierra Leone.

Since its inception, the awards ceremony has been organised annually and continues to grow in prestige and influence across Africa.

Awards Profile

The African Professional Awards aim to raise the profile of dedicated professionals and committed organisations while highlighting the impact they are making toward building a fairer, more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.

The awards honour excellence, leadership, and the innovative application of professional expertise, development initiatives, finance, and resources in supporting national and community development.

As a multi-sector initiative, the awards recognize donor agencies, United Nations institutions, regulatory authorities, private foundations, corporations, and development organisations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, integrity, and commitment beyond their expected responsibilities.

These recognitions are presented to institutions and individuals whose work reflects the core principles upon which the African Professional Awards were founded.

Selection Requirements

To qualify for nomination and consideration, the following requirements apply:

• An individual awardee must have been engaged in professional services or development work for a minimum of five years in a professional capacity.
• An organisation or corporate awardee must currently be engaged in social or economic development activities.
• An individual honouree must possess a university degree and a recognized professional qualification.
• An honouree must be between the ages of 30 and 59 years, except for Lifetime Achievement honourees.
• An honouree must not have been involved in any criminal activity or found guilty of unethical or unprofessional conduct, corruption, or related offenses in any court of law, either locally or internationally.
• All winners must agree to participate in publicity and promotional activities organised by the awards organisers.

Awards Process

Each national edition of the African Professional Awards will recognise 100 finalists known as the “Top 100 Professionals.”

In addition, special honours will be presented to:

• The highest-ranking entry in each category, receiving the “Best of the Year” Award.
• The second-highest-ranking entry, receiving the “Special Recognition of the Year” Award.

All honourees will receive:

• A prestigious award trophy
• An official certificate of recognition

The presentations will take place during the official awards banquet and gala dinner ceremony.

Organising Committee

The Organising Committee consists of seven distinguished and independent personalities representing different sectors across Africa.

The Committee is responsible for:

• Reviewing and assessing nominations
• Organising award categories
• Selecting and recommending winners
• Ensuring fairness, integrity, and excellence throughout the awards process

The Committee’s objective is to recognise and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding professionals while enhancing the prestige and credibility of the African Professional Awards programme.

It also seeks to expand opportunities for recognizing deserving individuals and organisations and to encourage a wider pool of qualified nominations across Africa.